Trump Must Sit for BBC Deposition by Dec. 11, Judge Rules

Trump Must Sit for BBC Deposition by Dec. 11, Judge Rules

Judge Sets a December 11 Deposition Deadline

A federal magistrate judge in Miami, Enjoliqué Lett, ordered President Donald Trump on Thursday to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. BBC attorney Charles Tobin told the court that with two months left in discovery, "we still haven't been able to depose the plaintiff." Trump sued the BBC last December in Florida federal court, alleging its 2024 "Panorama" documentary spliced portions of his Jan. 6, 2021 speech to make it appear he directly urged supporters to storm the Capitol. The BBC apologized for the edit and pulled the program, but insists the mistake is not enough to sustain a defamation claim.

October 16 Deposition Was Canceled

Attorneys for both sides negotiated a schedule over the summer that included an Oct. 16 deposition. Trump's lawyers canceled it, citing "matters of national importance," and the BBC then asked the court to compel his appearance. Judge Lett also rejected Trump's request to block the deposition from being videotaped; the seven-hour session will be accessible only to attorneys in the case. She warned that if Trump fails to comply with court orders to turn over records relevant to the case, the suit could be thrown out, and said she was "not satisfied" Trump's team had conducted a complete search for documents related to the Jan. 6 speech.

BBC Seeks Jack Smith's Testimony

At the same hearing, the parties clashed over the BBC's subpoena for former special counsel Jack Smith. Smith brought 2023 criminal charges against Trump over alleged efforts to subvert the transfer of power after the 2020 election; those charges were dismissed after Trump won a second term in 2024. The BBC argues Smith's knowledge of the Jan. 6 investigation is relevant to defending against Trump's claims, while Trump's lawyers call it "entirely irrelevant." Judge Lett did not issue a final ruling on the subpoena during Thursday's hearing.

BBC Challenges Florida Jurisdiction

The BBC is also challenging the Florida court's jurisdiction, arguing the program was never aired in the state or the United States. Trump's team counters that he was personally damaged under Florida's Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. BBC chair Samir Shah acknowledged the edit created a "misleading impression" by making excerpts from different portions of the speech appear continuous, producing the "mistaken impression" that Trump had made a "direct call for violent action." The BBC nonetheless maintains the error does not meet the legal standard for defamation and that the plaintiff must prove actual damages.

Two Deadlines: Dec. 11 and Dec. 18

The deposition must be completed by Dec. 11 or Trump could face sanctions, including possible dismissal of the $10 billion suit, unless discovery is extended beyond Dec. 18. BBC lawyers noted that "nearly eight months into discovery, after seven depositions of BBC witnesses, and with only two months of discovery remaining," they still have no schedule to depose "the most central figure in this case." Trump's lawyers stress that his presidential duties and security requirements must be accommodated when arranging testimony. The case now turns on whether the deposition proceeds on time and how the court resolves the Smith subpoena and jurisdictional questions.

Stakes: A $10 Billion Claim Hanging

The lawsuit seeks $10 billion (about £7.4 billion, or €8.6 billion). The editing controversy has already triggered senior resignations at the BBC, including director-general Tim Davie. A loss for either side would be consequential: for the BBC, a massive financial and reputational hit; for news organizations generally, a ruling could redraw legal lines around editing political speeches. Both sides are now betting on the evidence gathered during discovery.